Travellers still being hit with high card fees

Holidaymakers are paying more than £265,000 per day in debit card surcharges to airlines, despite a Government ruling that they should be banned, the consumer champion Which? has warned.

The pressure group submitted a “super-complaint” – backed by thousands of supporters – to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in March, asking the regulator to investigate excessive credit and debit card surcharges.

On June 28, the OFT proposed that charges for paying by debit card should be banned.

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A simple amendment to existing payment services regulations by the Treasury would achieve this.

But Which? increased pressure on the Government, saying it had still not taken action and consumers continued to be hit by excessive card fees.

“Unbelievably”, Which? said, two airlines – Swiss and Lufthansa – have announced plans to start charging customers £4.50 for using debit and credit cards since the OFT response.

Since June 28, consumers have collectively paid an estimated £18m in airline debit card surcharges. Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “With most airlines yet to drop these card surcharges and some introducing new fees, it’s time for the Government to put a stop to this.”